A RARE WILLIAM GALE COIN SILVER TWO HANDLED TRAY  
William Gale & Son, New York, New York , 1851
Marks: WM GALE & SON, G&S (oval-circle-diamond) 1851, 116 FULTON ST, NEW YORK
2-1/4 x 37-1/2 x 23 inches (5.7 x 95.3 x 58.4 cm)
258 troy ounces

From The Lauren Stanley Silver Collection

The rectangular tray with cast wave and foliate handles, egg and dart band to edge of raised rim, engraved ground with architectural and animal images centering cartouche, to left a castellated structure on a rocky shore, to the right Monticello and below Mount Vernon, representing the continents clockwise from upper left a puma, a beaver, a lion, a tiger and leopard, and stags.

While not a special commission, where one would expect a more cohesive iconography and certainly some sign of ownership in the central cartouche, the iconography and quality of the tray do suggest a unique production. This was therefore either a shop sample, kept to show the skill and repertoire of the engravers at Gale's command, or as a piece produced for exhibition.

Presents very well with slight dent from rear to right of cartouche, scratching to back indicative of age.